Family booths, child-free zones, and iPad-enabled cabin crew: Is there a flying revolution in the air?

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Flying as a family may soon be an experience parents can almost look forward to – at least if the new vision of Thomson Airways is to be believed.

The company has revealed a five-year plan for its products and services, promising to “change the face of holiday flying” with several innovations.

Among the new concepts is a social seating area for four to six people – designed for larger families – at the back of the company’s new fleet of Boeing 737 Max aircraft. There would be a kids’ club on board longer flights, while an upgraded in-flight entertainment system would include a bedtime story channel for young children as well as bespoke teenage content.

There are also plans to improve the experience for child-free holidaymakers. A new “duo-seating” innovation is being considered, where “three pod style seats” would become a table for two with champagne and mood lighting – “ideal for customers holidaying at adults only properties.”

According to the company’s overview of “planned product and service innovations”, new “zoning” seat plans may also be introduced, allowing customers to book seats with extra legroom, or sit in dedicated family areas or child-free zones.

A duvet and pillow service could also be included on the company’s two new Dreamliner aircraft, as well as a “Beach Snack Bar” in the plane's Premium Club Cabin, where food and drinks are themed around the destination.

The airline is also considering training up a member of cabin crew with extensive knowledge of the resort destination, who can mill about the plane on short-haul flights and advise fliers about what they can see and do on arrival.

Several of the concepts are being considered rather than confirmed. A Thomson spokeswoman said: “The seating concepts are in development and we’re looking at these for the arrival of our 737MAX aircrafts in 2018.”

The on-board kids’ club is due to be trialled next year, along with the new inflight entertainment.